Disaster declared after Chile quake

2 April 2014 Last updated at 11:26

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CCTV from inside a supermarket when the tremors struck has been released

Chile has declared two northern regions hit by a 8.2 magnitude earthquake to be disaster areas.

At least six people are known to have died and tens of thousands of people have been evacuated.

The quake struck at 20:46 local time (23:46 GMT) about 86km (52 miles) north-west of the mining area of Iquique, the US Geological Survey said.

Waves of up to 2.1m (6ft) have hit some areas and there have been power cuts, fires and landslides.

Tens of aftershocks have been reported throughout the night, including a 6.2 tremor.

The government said the declaration of a disaster in the regions of Tarapaca, Arica and Parinacota was aimed at "avoiding instances of looting and disorder".

President Michelle Bachelet said the country had "faced the emergency well" and called on those in affected regions "to keep calm and follow instructions from the authorities".

She is due to visit the affected areas later on Wednesday.

Prison break

Chilean TV broadcast pictures of traffic jams as people tried to head for safer areas.

Officials said the dead included people who were crushed by collapsing walls or died of heart attacks.

The interior minister also told Chilean TV that some 300 women inmates had escaped from a prison in Iquique.

Officials later said that 26 of them had been recaptured.

Authorities say they have re-established electricity supply in 50% of the affected areas.

Iquique Governor Gonzalo Prieto told local media that in addition to those killed, several people had been seriously injured.

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Chile is one of those countries that expects to experience large quakes. It's only four years since the 8.8 event at Maule much further to the south.

The drivers are the same. Chile runs the boundary between the Nazca and South American tectonic plates. These are vast slabs of the Earth's surface that grind past each other at a rate of about 80mm per year. The Nazca plate, which makes up the Pacific Ocean floor in this region, is being pulled down and under the South American coast. It makes the region one of the most seismically active on the globe.

This particular event occurred in what seismologists refer to as the Iquique seismic gap - a segment of the plate boundary that has been relatively quiet in recent times. The last big event here was the magnitude 8.8 tremor of 1877, just to the south, which claimed more than 2,000 lives.

While the government said it had no reports of significant damage to coastal areas, a number of homes were reported destroyed in Arica.

Further damage may not be known until dawn.

The quake shook modern buildings in Peru and in Bolivia's high altitude capital of La Paz - more than 470km (290 miles) from Iquique.

The Chilean interior ministry told the BBC that one of the main roads outside Iquique was cut off because of hillside debris.

Partial landslides have also taken place between the towns of Putre and General Lagos.

The authorities are reported to have deployed a planeload of special forces to guard against looting.

The Pacific Tsunami Warning Center (TWC) issued an initial warning for Chile, Peru, Ecuador, Colombia and Panama.

However, all warnings, watches and alerts were later lifted except for Chile and Peru.

Tsunami watches - in which the danger of large waves is deemed to be less serious - had been in place for Costa Rica, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Mexico and Honduras.

"We have asked citizens to evacuate the entire coast," Chilean home office minister Mahmud Aleuy said.

Evacuations were also ordered in Peru, where waves 2m (6.5ft) above normal forced about 200 people to leave the seaside town of Boca del Rio near the Chilean border, police said.

'Ghost town'

A British expatriate near the northern Chilean city of Antofagasta told the BBC that there had been several tremors since the last quarter of last year.

"But this earthquake, even with the increased distance, seemed to last a lot longer," Patrick Moore said.

"I knew it was bad so I immediately went online to see what had happened and saw a tsunami warning that's been put in place which confirmed my fears that it was a big one."

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President Michelle Bachelet urged people to "do all they need to ensure they and their families stay safe"

Kurt Hertrampf, a hostel owner in Arica, told the BBC there was a big blackout in the town after the quake and he was surprised the telephone line was still working. He added: "Downtown looks like a ghost town."

The area close to the epicentre is mineral rich, but none of the major copper companies reported any break in production.

Chile is one of the most seismically active countries in the world.

Central and southern areas of the country were hit by a powerful earthquake of 8.8 magnitude followed by a tsunami that devastated scores of towns in February 2010. More than 700 people were killed.

In 1960 an area of Chile south of Concepcion was hit by a 9.5 magnitude which caused about 1,655 deaths and a tsunami in Hawaii and Japan.

The 9.0 magnitude quake that struck Japan on 11 March 2011 caused a devastating tsunami and left more than 15,000 people dead, with more than 3,200 missing.

Are you affected by the earthquake? Are you in the region where a tsunami warning has been put in place? Please email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with 'Chile' in the subject.

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Pollution to spread across England

2 April 2014 Last updated at 12:44

Government health advice has been issued amid warnings pollution spreading across England will again hit high levels later.

Defra issued warnings as high pollution levels were recorded on Tuesday.

The pollution - a mix of local and European emissions and dust from the Sahara - is forecast in parts of south England, the Midlands and East Anglia.

The elderly and those with lung or heart disease are urged to avoid strenuous exercise outside.

Defra has a 10-point scale for measuring air quality - with 1 meaning there is a "low" risk of air pollution and 10 warning of "very high" levels.

On Wednesday morning levels were recorded at 6 - meaning moderate - in East Anglia, with pollution readings reaching level 5 in the South East and areas of north-east England.

However, forecasters say pollution levels could reach high levels later in the day and on Thursday, before clearing on Friday.

The BBC weather centre said the highest recordings are likely to be in East Anglia and the East Midlands, while moderate to high air pollution levels are also forecast for large parts of southern and central England.

In parts of Wales, areas around Wirral and Merseyside, as well as Devon, levels are likely to be moderate.

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HEALTH EFFECTS

• Those with existing lung and heart conditions may find symptoms worsen
• They should avoid doing too much, especially outdoors
• Healthy people may experience minor symptoms such as a sore throat or a tickly cough
• They should avoid strenuous activity in order to reduce such symptoms

It comes as pollution levels hit the maximum of 10 in north-west Norfolk on Tuesday.

Advice on the Defra website states that for high levels of pollution: "Adults and children with lung problems, and adults with heart problems, should reduce strenuous physical exertion, particularly outdoors, and particularly if they experience symptoms.

"People with asthma may find they need to use their reliever inhaler more often. Older people should also reduce physical exertion."

It adds that "anyone experiencing discomfort such as sore eyes, cough or sore throat should consider reducing activity, particularly outdoors".

Dr Paul Cosford from Public Health England told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that pollution levels were "clearly a serious issue".

However, he said it was "important we don't get it out of proportion".

He said the "vast majority" of people would suffer no harm from the pollution levels, but said people with health issues should take extra care.

Andrew Sibley, specialist forecaster for the Met Office, said: "Conditions are going to get worse again as we go through Wednesday and the rest of the week."

He said that a south-easterly wind would bring with it yet more pollution from Europe, and further compound the situation in the UK.

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BBC Weather's Carol Kirkwood explains the reasons behind the increase in pollution levels

Mr Sibley said that dust and sand particles from the Saharan desert could easily get swept up by high winds and carried thousands of miles across the globe.

"The dust gets caught by rain particles and that's how it ends up being visible on the ground," he said.

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Analysis

Air pollution is the world's single biggest environmental health risk, according to the World Health Organization.

It is linked to about seven million deaths a year, mostly from heart and lung diseases.

The causes are outdoor pollution from traffic and industry, and indoor pollution from dirty stoves. But dirty air is an invisible threat, and it's taken a wind from the Sahara to blow it into UK headlines.

The wind lifts desert dust high into the clouds several times a year. The dust provides vital fertiliser for the ocean and even the Amazon forest.

But in the UK it is combining with high levels of local air pollution to irritate people's lungs.

People with heart disease or lung disease or the elderly should take the health warnings seriously.

The episode may draw attention to the government's long-term failure to reduce air pollution.

The EU has launched legal proceedings against the UK for failing to reduce "excessive" levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution - mostly from traffic - after 15 years of warnings.

Follow Roger Harrabin on twitter

A Defra spokeswoman said: "The high level of air pollution this week is due to a combination of local emissions, light winds, pollution from the continent and dust blown over from the Sahara.

"We want to keep improving air quality and have introduced a new five-day forecast service in addition to investing heavily in local and transport initiatives to tackle this issue head-on."

'Understand the risks'

Northern Ireland and Scotland will see low air pollution on Wednesday, with isolated moderate levels possible in urban and other areas.

High levels of pollution are expected to continue across East Anglia and the Midlands on Thursday. But they are expected to drop by Friday.

The BBC's environment correspondent Roger Harrabin said the episode could bring further attention to the government's long-term struggle to reduce air pollution.

The EU has launched legal proceedings against the UK for failing to reduce "excessive" levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) air pollution - mostly from traffic - after 15 years of warnings, he added.

Professor Rob MacKenzie, an atmospheric scientist from the University of Birmingham, said that "if you're a healthy adult, then I think there's nothing to be worried about".

Maria Arnold, from the environmental law group Client Earth, called for changes to the way pollution warnings are given, saying the public is "generally very poorly warned about these type of events".

"We think the [warning] format needs to become very similar to the warnings for floods and heat waves. It is really important people understand the risks."

Have you experienced the effects of air pollution? Have you seen evidence of Saharan dust and sand particles where you live? Email haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk with 'pollution' in the subject.

Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.

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Farage and Clegg set for 'ding-dong'

2 April 2014 Last updated at 12:56

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Norman Smith looks ahead to Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage's second debate

UKIP's Nigel Farage has predicted Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg will attack his comments about admiring President Putin when they clash in a second TV debate.

Mr Farage said there were big questions to be answered from the first debate and said he was sure "there will be a ding-dong" over his views on Mr Putin.

Mr Clegg has called Mr Farage's view of Russia's president "utterly grotesque".

The Lib Dem leader wants the UK to stay in the EU, Mr Farage wants the UK to leave. It is on BBC Two at 19:00 BST.

The BBC event, which follows another debate hosted by LBC Radio last week, comes ahead of May's European Parliament elections.

The clash, hosted by David Dimbleby, has strict rules:

• Nick Clegg and Nigel Farage will each make an opening statement lasting one minute
• Each will get one minute to answer each question followed by free debate
• There will be closing statements of one minute from each at the end of the hour
• The audience of 100 people was recruited by polling organisation ICM reflecting as far as possible the broader voting age population in terms of gender, age, ethnicity and social class
• The audience also has similar numbers of people who support UK membership of the EU and those who believe the UK should leave, with some undecideds as well
• The questions - up to nine are expected - come from the audience members and emails sent to the BBC, selected by an editorial panel of senior BBC staff
• There will be coverage throughout the day on the BBC News Channel and you can follow correspondents and producers tweeting about it on this BBC #europedebate list

As he left home on Wednesday morning, Mr Farage told waiting reporters he was "looking forward" to the debate.

He said: "This is great - UKIP, mocked and derided, our arguments written off as being mad and extreme - and here we are on national television having a debate.

"The last time this happened, a big BBC debate, was 40 years ago. The only thing that is the same is David Dimbleby - everything else has changed."

As he prepared to travel into Westminster this morning Mr Clegg said he was "hugely looking forward" to the debate.

He said: "I think last week I showed very clearly that Nigel Farage got his facts wrong. This week I intend to show that his recommendation that we should be isolated in the world is also wrong."

A row between Mr Clegg and Mr Farage over the UKIP leader's comments on Vladimir Putin has escalated ahead of the debate.

In the first debate Mr Farage suggested the EU had "blood on its hands" for encouraging Ukrainians to rise up against their former pro-Russian government.

In a GQ magazine interview released this week Mr Farage named President Putin as the world leader he most admired, for his role in the Syria crisis last year, "as an operator, but not as a human being".

Mr Clegg responded by telling a news conference he thought those views were "utterly grotesque", saying President Putin was the "chief sponsor and protector of one of the most brutal dictators on the face of the planet".

Last week's debate saw Mr Farage and Mr Clegg clash over the issue of immigration and the possible effect on the UK economy of leaving the EU.

Mr Clegg said: "We are better off in Europe - richer, stronger, safer - and that's why I will fight to keep us in, for the sake of jobs, for the sake of our clout in the world, for the sake of Britain."

But Mr Farage replied: "This debate is between a tired status quo defending a crumbling EU that frankly isn't working any more, and a fresh approach that says let's be friendly with Europe, let's trade with Europe, but let's not be governed by their institutions."

* You can watch the whole debate live on the BBC News website, with rolling video and text coverage of the key points, reaction and analysis. There is a BBC News Channel special programme from 18:30 BST to 21:00 BST.

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Pupil's wall death prompts checks

2 April 2014 Last updated at 12:57

Structural checks are to be carried out on schools across Edinburgh, after a 12-year-old girl died when a "free-standing wall" collapsed on her.

The girl, named locally as Keane Wallis-Bennett, was fatally injured at Liberton High School on Tuesday.

Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond promised a rigorous investigation into the accident.

The city council said it would survey all similar walls in its schools as a "precaution".

Prime Minister David Cameron described the incident as an ''absolutely shocking accident'' and said any lessons would have to be learnt.

The free-standing modesty wall, which was not structural, served as a partition to give pupils privacy when showering in gym changing rooms.

In a statement on Tuesday night, the City of Edinburgh Council said the wall had been checked within the past two years and no problems identified.

Pupils were sent home after the incident, which happened just before 10:00 BST on Tuesday, and the school is to remain closed for the rest of the week.

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James Cook reports. ''The school's doors will stay open for those pupils needing counselling and comfort''

Building surveyors will carry out a full check at the school before pupils return after the Easter break in three weeks.

Police, who described the case as a "tragic incident", will meet officials from the Health and Safety Executive later to discuss who will investigate the incident.

Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill, who is an Edinburgh MSP, said Liberton High School has had "difficulties with fragmenting and fraying to the fabric" of the building.

But he said he did not believe there were problems with health and safety at the school, or that squeezes on the council's education budget were hindering school renovation projects.

He told BBC Radio's Good Morning Scotland programme: "I think the council are doing a good job. They are working their way through the school estate. Many schools are being replaced, particular actions were taken in every school where there was a requirement.

"The city council has always put the safety of pupils paramount. That is why I welcome their review to ensure that the situation is safe in every school.

"There are challenges, they do have to prioritise, but I do believe that they have been doing the correct job."

Mr MacAskill said the girl's death was a "double blow" for the school after the death of fellow pupil Jamie Skinner, 13, who collapsed while playing football for Tyncastle FC at the end of last year.

Floral tributes have been left outside the school, with one bunch including a card that read: "Rest in peace Keane. God has gained another angel."

One pupil at the school, 13-year-old Devon Blyth, told the BBC she had warned a teacher some months ago that there was an unstable wall in the girl's changing room near the old gym - where the incident took place.

She said: "There was a wall that's been wobbly for months."

She said she had told a teacher who had said that "it should be fine - and then this has happened".

In February, Edinburgh City Council was fined £8,000 after a pupil received serious injuries when she fell down a lift shaft at Liberton High School, in December 2011.

'Rigorous investigation'

The school, which has about 650 pupils, was built in 1959, and the PE accommodation was refurbished in the mid-1980s.

A report prepared for the council in December 2013 recommended a programme of repairs to the school buildings, although there was no indication of structural work being required.

A council statement on Tuesday evening said: "A full survey of all our schools, including Liberton High School, was carried out in 2012/13 and no concerns with this wall were identified.

"However, as a precaution, specialist council building services staff will be surveying all similar walls in schools where we know that they exist."

A council spokesman added: "As a further precaution, a full survey will be carried out on Liberton High School in the coming days before the main school building re-opens to pupils."

Gillian Cameron, 46, a parent, said: "Someone needs to stand up and be accountable for this.

"It is not the headmaster's fault, he's trying to run a school with hardly any money.

"That's what is annoying when you have a child at school, its the lack of money, we can't afford this, we can't afford that, so they build a tram centre that nobody wants, nobody needs and nobody can afford.

"It makes you angry. They need to prioritise. a 12-year-old child is not here any more. Did it have to take that, for people to say that school is not safe?"

The associate minister at Liberton Kirk, Reverend Dave Rankin, is one of the chaplains at Liberton High School.

He said: "Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of the girl who has died.

"The chaplaincy team will offer ongoing support and comfort to the school and the local community as the full impact of this tragedy is felt in the coming days and weeks."

Meanwhile Highland Council said it has ordered checks at all 209 of its schools following Keane's death.

The council said its also liaising with High Life Highland to arrange for similar checks in leisure centres.

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'Dunce v Muppets' at PM's questions

2 April 2014 Last updated at 12:58

David Cameron and Ed Miliband have been hurling insults at each other in a return of the "Punch and Judy" politics both men said they wanted to abolish.

In exchanges on the price of Royal Mail shares, Mr Miliband said the PM was "not so much the 'Wolf of Wall Street' as the 'dunce of Downing Street'".

The PM said he would not take lectures from the Labour leader and Ed Balls.

He branded the pair "the two Muppets" who had advised former PM Gordon Brown on the sale of the UK's gold.

The exchanges came in one of most heated Prime Minister's Questions for some time, with Mr Miliband particularly fired up about the part-privatisation of Royal Mail, saying shares had been sold off far too cheaply.

The National Audit Office has said the shares were priced too cheaply and the taxpayers did not get "value for money".

The Labour leader challenged Mr Cameron to name today's share price compared with the initial sale offering of 330p and condemned the government for getting a bad deal.

He claimed the shares had been sold off at "mate's rates" to Mr Cameron's "friends in the City".

Mr Cameron hit back at the Labour leader, saying: "I will take a lecture from almost anyone in the country about the sale of Royal Mail, but not from the two Muppets who advised the last chancellor on selling the gold.

"There they sit, there they sit, not a word of apology for £9bn wasted. The Royal Mail privatisation has got £2bn for the taxpayer."

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Pupil killed in school wall collapse

1 April 2014 Last updated at 13:07

A pupil has died after a wall inside the building of an Edinburgh school collapsed and landed on top of her.

The Scottish Ambulance Service sent a special operation response team to Liberton High School at 09:53.

A Police Scotland spokesman said the pupil, who is understood to have been in S1 or S2, was treated by ambulance staff but pronounced dead.

The incident is thought to have happened in a PE changing room. Police confirmed next of kin had been told.

A Police Scotland spokesman said: "Police in Edinburgh responded to Liberton High School after a wall within the building collapsed, injuring a female pupil at 10:00.

"She was treated by ambulance staff on the scene, but was pronounced dead."

He added: "Inquiries into the full circumstances surrounding this incident are ongoing and we are working alongside our relevant partner agencies."

'Tragic and troubling'

An Edinburgh City Council spokeswoman said they were advising parents to pick up their children from the school.

She said: "A pupil at Liberton High School has sadly died following an incident at the school.

"Senior education staff and Health and Safety officers from the council are at the school providing support to staff and pupils.

"An updated statement on behalf of the school will be issued later."

BBC reporter Morag Kinniburgh said pupils had been texting their parents saying they were extremely worried and asking to be picked up from the school.

Parents have started congregating at the school gates. There are about 650 pupils at the school, which was built in 1959.

The school sent a text to parents, which reads: "Important! Accident at school. A pupil has sadly died. Her parents are aware. No-one else is injured. Info to follow."

'Heard crash'

Parent Gary Gracie, 34, said: "My step-daughter phoned and said one of the walls in the changing room had collapsed.

"The lassies were getting changed for their PE class in the changing room. My step-daughter heard the crash.

"She said it was all her friends in the building at the time.

"She is really upset."

Another parent, Alistair Strachan, 36, said he was "very worried and concerned" about the incident.

Nick Cook, Conservative councillor whose Liberton and Gilmerton ward includes Liberton High School, told the BBC Scotland news website: "This is a very tragic and troubling incident.

"My thoughts are with the pupil's family.

"Serious questions need to be asked of the children and families department about how this has come about and a full investigation must be launched."

'Dreadful news'

Ian Murray MP tweeted: "Tragic news coming from Liberton High School. My thoughts go out to the family and all at the school. Dreadful news."

A Scottish Fire and Rescue Service spokeswoman said: "Crews from Tollcross, McDonald Road, Liberton and Newcraighall were mobilised to a collapsed structure at Liberton High School around 10:00 this morning.

"Firefighters assisted ambulance personnel to remove a female casualty from a collapsed structure but sadly she was pronounced dead at the scene.

"Thoughts are with the family at this difficult time."

The moderator of the general assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Lorna Hood, tweeted: "Sadness as we hear of the death of pupil at Liberton High School.

"Our prayers and heartfelt compassion go out to her family and school community."

Edinburgh City Council was fined £8,000 in February after a pupil received serious injuries when she fell down a lift shaft at Liberton High School.

Morgan Seaton, a fourth year Liberton High School pupil, was 15 at the time of the accident on 8 December 2011.

Another pupil at the school died in December while playing for Tynecastle FC's under-14s.

The 13-year-old collapsed during a match at Saughton Sports complex in Edinburgh on 22 December.

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'No sign' of Russian troop pullout

1 April 2014 Last updated at 12:31

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Russia has reportedly withdrawn some troops, but the exact number is unclear

Nato is not seeing a Russian troop pullout from the border with Ukraine, the military alliance's chief has said.

Speaking ahead of a Nato summit, Anders Fogh Rasmussen again stressed that the best way to solve the crisis was through "a political dialogue".

Nato foreign ministers are due to discuss ways to help Ukraine and reassure allies in Eastern Europe at the meeting in Brussels.

This comes after Russia's takeover last month of Ukraine's Crimea region.

It is the first time ministers from the 28 member states of the alliance have convened since the annexation of Crimea.

Nato has also bolstered air drills to be held over the Baltic states.

On Monday, Russian President Vladimir Putin told German Chancellor Angela Merkel he had ordered a partial withdrawal of Russian troops near the eastern border of Ukraine, according to the German government.

Moscow is believed to have massed tens of thousands of soldiers there in recent days, causing alarm in Kiev and the West.

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Moscow has broken with a pattern of behaviour that has characterised diplomacy in Europe since the end of the Cold War"

End Quote

Meanwhile, Russian energy firm Gazprom is increasing the price it charges Ukraine for gas from Tuesday.

Gazprom's chief executive Alexei Miller said the price of Russian gas for Ukraine had gone up to $385.5 (£231) per 1,000 cubic metres in the second quarter of 2014 from the previous rate of $268.5.

Mr Miller added that Ukraine's unpaid gas bills to Russia stood at $1.7bn.

In other developments on Tuesday

• Ukraine's parliament ordered security services to disarm all "illegal armed groups", following Monday night's shooting in Kiev that involved a member of the radical Right Sector group
• Russia's upper house of parliament voted to pull out of a treaty with Ukraine on the Black Sea Fleet's presence in Crimea

Tensions between the Kremlin and the West rose after the overthrow of pro-Kremlin Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in February, following months of street protests.

Russia's subsequent decision to annex Crimea, after a Moscow-backed referendum that was later condemned as illegal by the UN General Assembly, triggered a crisis in relations.

The US and EU have imposed sanctions on members of President Putin's inner circle and other officials. Russia has retaliated with its own sanctions on US politicians.

Rattled nerves

"Unfortunately, I cannot confirm that Russia is withdrawing its troops," Mr Rasmussen told reporters. "This is not what we are seeing."

He said Moscow had undermined the principles on which a Nato-Russia partnership was built, adding that there could be no more "business as usual".

Nato foreign ministers are expected to discuss the formal suspension of co-operation with Moscow at the Brussels meeting.

"Russia's aggression against Ukraine challenges our vision of a Europe whole free and at peace," Mr Rasmussen said.

"It fundamentally changes Europe's security landscape, and it causes instability right on Nato's borders. Today we will show our steadfast commitment to Nato's collective defence."

Mr Rasmussen added that the alliance would "agree on ways to support our partner Ukraine with political and practical measures".

In an earlier statement, Nato said ministers would speak to acting Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Deshchytsia about ways to support Ukraine with its defence reforms.

They are also expected to look at options including situating permanent military bases in the Baltic states to reassure members in Eastern Europe.

Russia's actions in Ukraine have rattled nerves in Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, which were part of the Soviet Union during the Cold War.

Nato jets will take part in air patrols in the region later in a routine exercise that analysts say has taken on added significance due to the crisis.

Several Nato countries, including the UK, US and France, have offered additional warplanes.

Earlier, Ukraine condemned a visit to Crimea by Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev and a delegation of government ministers.

A foreign ministry spokesman in Kiev said the highest-level trip to the Black Sea peninsula by officials from Moscow since its annexation by Russia was a "crude violation" of international rules.

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'Eat seven a day' fruit and veg call

1 April 2014 Last updated at 07:58 By Pippa Stephens Health reporter, BBC News

Eating seven or more portions of fruit and vegetables a day is healthier than the five currently recommended and would prolong lives, researchers say.

A study of 65,226 men and women indicated the more fruit and vegetables people ate, the less likely they were to die - at any given age.

Seven a day cut the risk of dying from cancer and heart disease.

But the government says its "five-a-day" advice is sufficient and that many of us struggle to achieve even this.

Continue reading the main story

"Start Quote

The clear message here is that the more fruit and vegetables you eat, the less likely you are to die at any age"

End Quote Dr Oyinola Oyebode Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, UCL

Experts said other lifestyle factors, such as not smoking or drinking excessively, may have accounted for the drop in mortality, not just fruit and veg consumption, although the study authors said they had tried to account for this.

The University College London researchers used the National Health Survey, which collects data from people in England each year through questionnaires and nurse visits, to look at diet and lifestyle.

They analysed data between 2001 and 2008, which provided a snapshot rather than people's continuing dietary habits.

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Five a day

• The five-a-day message is based on advice from the World Health Organization
• It highlights the health benefits of getting five 80g (3oz) portions of fruit and vegetables every day
• Your five portions should include a variety of fruit and vegetables
• Most fruits and veg count towards five a day
• The government says it can include fresh, frozen, canned, dried or pure juices
• Potatoes and cassava don't count because they mainly contribute starch to the diet

The study looked at general mortality as well as death from cancer, heart disease and stroke, and found risk of premature death from any cause decreased as fruit and veg consumption increased.

Risk of death by any cause over the course of the study was reduced by 42% for seven or more (up to around 10 portions a day)

Fresh vegetables had the strongest protective effect, followed by salad and then fruit.

Fruit juice conferred no benefit, while canned fruit appeared to increase the risk of death - possibly because it is stored in sugary syrup, say the researchers.

Lead investigator Dr Oyinlola Oyebode said: "The clear message here is that the more fruit and vegetables you eat, the less likely you are to die - at any age."

She said the size of the effect was "staggering", but added that eating a few portions a day was still better than nothing.

Fruit and vegetables could have a protective effect against disease as they contained antioxidants, which repair damage to cells, she said.

Dr Oyebode added that both fruit and vegetables contained micronutrients and fibre, both of which are good for health.

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She said a "portion" meant about 80g (3oz), meaning "one large fruit or a handful of smaller fruit or veg".

But some experts said the work was not conclusive and that other lifestyle factors may have influenced the results.

Prof Tom Sanders, at the School of Medicine, King's College London, said it was "already known" that people who said they ate lots of fruit and vegetables were health conscious, educated and better-off, which could account for the drop in risk.

"You cannot extrapolate from this kind of information to make sensible pronouncements about what people should eat."

Prof Naveed Sattar, of the University of Glasgow, said promoting a seven-a-day message would be "really challenging".

"It would require governmental support such as subsidising the cost of fruit and vegetables, perhaps by taxing sugar-rich foods, and making available high quality products to all in society," he said.

Dr Alison Tedstone, of Public Health England, said the study was "interesting" but it seemed "premature" to raise the recommended fruit and veg intake because two thirds of people were not eating five or more portions a day.

She said people "tend to understand this five-a-day message", adding: "I think we should keep it simple and stay as we are."

"We are working very hard to improve the availability of fruit and vegetables, as we see it as absolutely integral to somebody's health to choose those five a day," she said.

Victoria Taylor, senior dietician at the British Heart Foundation, said people were still struggling to meet the existing target of at least five a day.

"While you may not be getting your five a day, there's no reason to give up and stop trying as this study showed there were health benefits for every extra portion of fruit and veg people ate," she said.

In Australia, the government's advice is "two plus five" a day - encouraging people to eat two helpings of fruit and five portions of vegetables.

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Hillsborough 'seared into memories'

1 April 2014 Last updated at 12:36

The Hillsborough disaster is "seared into the memories" of everyone affected by it, the coroner has told jurors hearing the fresh inquests into the deaths of the 96 fans who died.

Making an opening statement, Lord Justice Goldring said the tragedy was "the worst ever disaster at a British sports stadium".

The disaster unfolded on 15 April 1989 during Liverpool's FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest.

The hearing could last a year.

At the coroner's court in Warrington, Lord Justice Goldring said: "The disaster is seared into the memories of the very many people affected by it, most notably of course the families of the 96 people who died."

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Judith Moritz North of England correspondent, BBC News

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He said the inquests would "investigate the disaster as a whole and consider the experiences of each of the 96".

The coroner told the jury panel of seven women and four men that the findings in the original inquests were quashed in December 2012.

"A new inquiry was needed, we are conducting the new or fresh inquiry.

"In doing so, we are not concerned with whether what was decided at the previous inquiries was right or wrong."

'Pressure in pens'

Outlining the events of the day, Lord Justice Goldring said: "Around the time of the kick-off, a terrible crush developed in two pens, within the... terrace at the west end of the stadium - the Leppings Lane end.

"That's where the Liverpool fans were standing.

"The pressure in the pens built up. Many of those in the pens suffered terrible crushing injuries."

He said that witnesses' memories "will inevitably have faded" in almost 25 years since the disaster.

Explaining the role of the jury, the coroner said: "As part of your task, you will, I anticipate, have to consider the underlying circumstances which contributed to the cause of these deaths, whether opportunities were lost which might have prevented the deaths or saved lives."

Earlier, the inquest listened for six minutes while the names of the 96 victims were read out by Christina Lambert QC, counsel to the inquests.

Verdicts of accidental death from the original Hillsborough inquest in March 1991 were quashed in December 2012, after the Hillsborough Independent Panel delivered its final report on the disaster earlier that year.

The coroner told the jury that a new inquest was ordered following a "campaign by bereaved families".

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Angus Crawford at the "unique" court being used for the Hillsborough inquests

Over the course of the hearing, jurors are expected to hear evidence on themes including stadium safety, emergency planning, crowd management and the response of the emergency services.

The inquests are being held in a purpose-built courtroom, the biggest in England and Wales, in an office building in Birchwood Park, in Warrington.

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Vince Cable defends Royal Mail sale

1 April 2014 Last updated at 13:10

Business Secretary Vince Cable has defended the privatisation of Royal Mail, despite criticism from the spending watchdog.

Mr Cable said it had achieved its primary objective of selling the shares and reducing the risk to taxpayers.

It came after the National Audit Office said too much emphasis was put on rushing the sale, at the expense of value for money.

Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said it was "a first-class disaster".

But Mr Cable insisted the government had been "right to take a cautious approach".

Royal Mail shares are more than 70% higher than the 2013 sale price.

The Communication Workers Union called for Business Secretary Vince Cable to quit over the sale.

Billy Hayes, general secretary of the union, said it was a "botched, panic sale" and the business secretary "should consider his position".

Mr Cable refused to apologise, and said that the sale had raised £2bn for the taxpayer, with a further £1.5bn from the 30% stake in Royal Mail which it had retained.

Cancelled strike

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Vince Cable on Royal Mail privatisation: "We did get value for money"

The privatisation of Royal Mail took place amid huge public interest and the shares rose by 38% to 455p on their first day of trading, meaning taxpayers had lost out on at least £750m in the sale.

The NAO report concluded that the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills was too cautious when setting the sale price of 330p per share.

"The department was very keen to achieve its objective of selling Royal Mail, and was successful in getting the company listed on the FTSE 100," said Amyas Morse, head of the NAO.

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"Start Quote

Achieving the highest price possible at any cost and whatever the risk was never the aim of the sale"

End Quote Vince Cable Business Secretary

"Its approach, however, was marked by deep caution, the price of which was borne by the taxpayer."

A planned postal workers' strike, which was eventually cancelled after the privatisation, also affected the government's sale price.

Demand for Royal Mail shares was 24 times the maximum number available to investors, the NAO said, but the banks overseeing the sale advised there was not sufficient demand to justify a significantly higher figure.

George Godber, a fund manager at Milton Group, told Radio 4 that he was "astounded" by the low price.

"I thought it was significantly underpriced. In stock market terms, this was the London 2012 Olympic ticket moment, lots of people applied but very few got to go to the opening ceremony."

Managers from two of these advising banks - Goldman Sachs and UBS - said market uncertainty and the complexity of the deal led them to a conservative price when they were questioned by MPs in November last year.

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They said there was a significant risk that raising the price past the £3.30 they had advised would diminish investor interest.

The NAO acknowledged the government had benefited from the increase in Royal Mail's share price via the 30% stake it still holds.

But it argues the benefits could have been even greater had the government kept a larger stake, while still fulfilling its policy objective of reducing public ownership to below 50%.

Overhaul

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Priority investors

With demand for the flotation uncertain, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills chose 21 "priority investors" to maximise its chances of successfully selling all the shares.

It believed that these investors would be long-term, supportive shareholders.

It did not, however, confirm this with a binding agreement, because it said this would have reduced the sale price of the shares.

Eventually, 22% of Royal Mail was sold to 16 of the priority investors who had bid for shares at 330p.

By the end of January 2014, just six priority investors remained among the largest shareholders, who together held just 12% of the shares.

The spending watchdog also noted that a small number of shareholders, designated as "priority investors", had made significant profits from the increase in the sale price following the privatisation.

The government had allocated larger proportions of their shares orders to these 16 investors, in the belief that they would form part of a stable long-term and supportive shareholder base.

However, almost half of the shares allocated to them had been sold within a few weeks of the IPO.

Margaret Hodge, chair of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), said the sharp rise in Royal Mail's share price since the sale showed "the department had no clue what it was doing."

Mr Umunna said Mr Cable could no longer dismiss the share price rise.

"He and David Cameron have serious questions to answer on the hundreds of millions of pounds they have lost British taxpayers and cannot duck responsibility for what has happened," he added.

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